For over 8 years, the China Health Policy and Management Society (CHPAMS) has provided opportunities for public health scholars to exchange their insights, discuss challenges, and develop solutions to help improve the health of 1.4 billion population in China. Considered the most important public events since the organization’s founding, the 1st CHPAMS conference was successfully held at Emory Rollins School of Public Health (Atlanta, GA) from May 13-15, 2016.

The three-day conference provided ample learning opportunities for participants. Those attendees represented elite institutions including such as the U.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Yale University, American Cancer Society, and IBM Watson. Keynote speaker Dr. Jeffrey Koplan is a CHPAMS Advisor and Vice President for Global Health at Emory University, and formerly served as Director of U.S. CDC. His presentation addressed various elements that could be targeted to improve the health status in China, particularly in rural areas. Dr. Koplan have received the Chinese government’s Friendship Award for his long-term support to the organization and his influential contributions to public health policies in China.

Members actively participated in sessions on scientific research, career development, academic publication, and team building events. With attending members' open vote, Dr. Xi Chen from

Yale University won the best abstract award and five students received travel awards.

The transaction of the Board of Directors was announced at the closing session. The new CHPAMS Board of Directors is comprised of Zhuo Chen (President), Zheng Li (Secretary), Qi Zhang (Treasurer), Dong Xu (Director of Fundraising), Liang Wang (Director of Public Relations), Marie Ng (Director of Academics), Xuesong Han (Director of Membership), and Xi Chen (President - elect).